Posts

Elevator Pitches: Marketing Yourself in an Instant

November 17, 2020

By Kimberly Stevens, NPI, Inc.’s Marketing Coach Elevator pitches help business owners provide service highlights in a quick, precise manner, which is perfect for today’s fast-paced flow of information. Whether you’re new to the elevator pitch or just need a refresher, here are some tips for crafting one like a pro. Purpose of an Elevator Pitch The main purpose of an elevator pitch is to grab the attention of prospective clients on the fly. You can use it at the coffee shop, at trade shows or anywhere else where you want to reach more people in less time. Ideally, you want to make your pitch last between 30-60 seconds (around the length of an elevator ride). If you run too long, you’ll lose interest. If you undershoot it, your audience may leave with more questions than answers. Content of Your Pitch The most difficult part of creating an elevator pitch is trying to “trim the fat” in your conversation. You want to be able to cover all the information you need, without feeling as though you’re cramming it together. Some important items to remember when creating your speech are: Ending with a call to action is crucial for engaging the

Eliminating Excuses to Succeed in Business

November 10, 2020

By Adam Kiesel, NPI, Inc.’s Digital Marketing Assistant Stumbles and setbacks are a natural part of business, and everyone will experience them at some point. However, sometimes these failures can dictate future business interactions and expansion plans. The good news is that there are ways for you to overcome your own excuses and achieve the goals you’ve set for yourself. The Impact of Excuses Excuses are essentially mental roadblocks that knock you off of your set course, both in life and in your business. They can stem from either negative past experiences, or the fear of a possible future outcome from a decision made now. No matter where they come from, excuses have a negative impact on your development. Big or small, they could keep you living in a state of fear forever if you don’t acknowledge and try to overcome them. Here are a few common excuses that business owners find themselves using, as well as solutions to prevent feeling “stuck.” “I don’t have the time now.” Not having the extra time to work on new projects is something many new business owners lament at one point or another. While it’s good to stay busy with your work, you

How to Interact with Clients Through Facebook Live

November 3, 2020

By Stepha Vesper, NPI, Inc.’s Marketing Communications Specialist Social media has people worldwide more connected than ever before, with Facebook leading the way. Nearly 3 billion people use the platform daily, with many spending hours at a time on it. Because of the widespread popularity of Facebook, businesses are always finding ways to leverage it and grow their customer base. Benefits of Facebook Live Facebook Live lets you broadcast from your feed with the simple tap of a button. The convenience and flexibility that live streaming offers allows you to add another piece to your marketing strategy. You don’t need a professional setup with lights and microphones, just a phone or laptop will work. Viewers can share your broadcast to their feed, and tag their friends and family to join in. The popularity and shareability of video makes Facebook Live an invaluable medium for broadening your audience reach. What to Do with Live There are a few different structures and styles you can experiment with for your live stream. The first option that you can go with is a Q&A or FAQ session to help potential clients get to know you better. Another approach that you can take is to

Integrating Google Posts on Your GMB Listing

October 27, 2020

By Zach Vesper, NPI, Inc.’s SEO & Marketing Specialist Your Google My Business listing plays a key role in growing your business, and it’s important to know how to get the most out of it. There are many nuances with a GMB listing, but knowing each aspect will help with converting clicks to clients. One underused feature that Google offers for listings is the “Posts” section. What the Post Feature Does Integrating the Google Posts feature on your listing gives you a more well-rounded business profile. Along with linking to your web page and providing updated hours, posting on your GMB lets clients know what you’re up to. They get a better understanding of the work that you do by seeing it come directly from you. Being able to communicate effectively through Posts acts as an ice-breaker between you and a customer before you even meet. Google Posts + SEO You’ve probably heard how Search Engine Optimization (SEO) contributes to customers finding your business through Google Search. Having the Posts feature enabled on your listing will increase traffic to your site and boost your SEO ranking. Google likes to “reward” those that are active on the site, and posts is

Going Virtual: Why Many are Buying Homes “Blind”

October 21, 2020

By Adam Kiesel, NPI, Inc.’s Digital Marketing Assistant Over the past year, inspectors have adjusted their processes to help ensure client safety and peace of mind. Wearing personal protective equipment and bringing disinfectants to inspections have become commonplace. In addition to precautions taken throughout the inspection process, social distancing measures may still sometimes prevent many agents and clients from opting for an in-person walkthrough to go over report findings. So what does this mean for the future of inspections and how they’re conducted? Read on to learn more. COVID Has Altered BuyingBetween 10-20 percent of Americans under 30 have moved or know someone who has since the pandemic began, either as a direct result of it or due to other circumstances. The housing market remains competitive in many regions, with buyers acting quickly to take advantage of low interest rates. This means that the window of time between the inspection and closing has continued to tighten. More and more employees are also moving to a permanent work-from-home setup, giving them location flexibility. Oftentimes, in this situation, buyers are unable to travel long distances to see a home in person, forcing them to buy “blind.” For inspectors, this makes proper photo

Practicing Proper “Netiquette” in Your Business

October 13, 2020

By Zach Vesper, NPI, Inc.’s Marketing SEO & Marketing Specialist Meeting with clients either in-person or digitally is a large part of your daily operations. Now more than ever before, business owners are learning the importance of video conferencing to stay connected. However, there are obvious differences between speaking directly to someone and looking at a computer or phone screen. Here are a few tips for keeping a clear line of communication. Speak Clearly Just like talking to someone face-to-face, speaking clearly through electronic correspondence such as text or email is important. Remember proper sentence structure, and of course correct punctuation. Run-on sentences and random capitalization make it hard to digest what you’re talking about. Although you may not mean to, this can frustrate a customer that’s unable to decipher your message. Before you hit that send button, read over things one last time to catch and correct any errors. Adjust to Your Audience As an inspector, you want to give your clients the best customer service experience possible. That means working to find a solution to their current problems. While your explanation may make sense to you, your clients could be confused. Technical phrasing and wordy emails may find

Importance of Celebrating Business Milestones

October 6, 2020

By David Stamper, NPI, Inc.’s President & CFO Setting and reaching goals are a meaningful part of running a business. Whether they’re days, weeks or even years from now, it’s important to take some time to stop and reflect on your achievements. Although life and business can get hectic, don’t let your milestones simply fade into the background. Why Should You Celebrate? It doesn’t matter if you have a large celebration or a small get together, the key is to take time to acknowledge your progress. Patting yourself on the back might not seem like a valuable part of business management, but it provides you with proof that you’re growing as a company. Some business owners may be shy to draw attention to themselves, but you’re doing something that not many people can say they’ve done. So what kinds of things could you/should you celebrate, and what’s the best way to? Business Anniversaries One easy to remember item you can celebrate is your business’s opening day anniversary. No matter the market or industry that you’re in, it can be difficult to sustain success over a long period of time. You can start out by doing monthly anniversaries and then do

The Benefits of a Strong Support System in Business

September 29, 2020

By Stepha Vesper, NPI, Inc.’s Marketing Communications Specialist Oftentimes in business, you find yourself making difficult decisions without anyone else to consult. Trying to decide what is best for you and your company is extremely stressful, and you may find yourself avoiding these tough calls altogether. So where can you turn to when you need a helping hand? Building a Support System A support system can be a great way to help you as a business owner deal with complex decision-making and any issues you may encounter along the way. You’ll have the ability to brainstorm solutions from an array of different perspectives, looking at a problem from all angles and forming a viewpoint you may never have otherwise. Support systems can also serve as a valuable tool for keeping yourself accountable and reaching your goals. Using Close Connections as a Lifeline Having a group of people with firsthand knowledge of your industry and small business ownership makes complex decisions a bit easier to navigate. Never hesitate to turn to your NPI/GPI family! We’re here to support each other in all things, whether it’s technical advice, marketing strategies or business management operations. Friends and family might not have the same

Just a Number: Starting a Successful Franchise at Any Age

September 22, 2020

By Zach Vesper, NPI, Inc.’s SEO and Marketing Specialist Some common characteristics that come to mind when people imagine a successful startup owner are youthful, energetic and academically accomplished. Popular thinking dictates that once you’ve cemented yourself in a career that it’s too late to start something new. However, this evaluation couldn’t be further from the truth. You don’t need to be a 20-something prodigy to start a business. Contrary to popular belief, the majority of successful entrepreneurs don’t start their business in their early twenties. In fact, studies show that they’re far more likely to be in their early to mid-40s. Older entrepreneurs tend to enjoy a higher rate of success because they have life and career experience on their side. Chances are you yourself have had a few “learning experiences” that have better prepared you for venturing out on your own. What inspires someone older to start a business? A 2020 report by Guidant Financial shows that out of 3,000 small business owners surveyed, almost 87 percent were aged 40 and above. So what is causing the shift from corporate to entrepreneurship for people this age? The answer for most is the fear of letting life pass them

Finding the Right Space for Your Inspection Business

September 15, 2020

By Adam Kiesel, NPI, Inc.’s Digital Marketing Assistant The majority of inspectors just starting out have business operations set up at home to help cut down on overhead costs. But as your business expands and you take on new employees, it might make more sense to set up in a commercial office space that everyone can report to. Check out these tips for finding the right business space for your growing team. Location, Location, Location As you begin your search for a new office, brainstorm several different locations and how they might factor into your day-to-day business flow. You’ll likely find that you want to be based somewhere around the center of your territory for easy access to all your most frequently traveled areas. However, if rent happens to be especially high at the heart of your service area, you’ll likely need to crunch some numbers, namely the cost of gas and vehicle maintenance versus the difference in monthly rent. It’s also a good idea to consider the areas where longstanding employees are based and their proximity to your potential new space. Think of Employees’ Needs Along with keeping in mind the traveling distance for your employees, think of how